Stamp-affixing machine



"D. E. PLUMLEE AND A. E. GRUBER STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2I, 1920.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922;

3 SHEETS-*SHEET I- n. E. PLUMLEE AND A/E. GRUBEB.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED nc.21,'192o.

1,405,32 Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- v 7 -5-5- 'n. E. PLUMLEE AND ALE. GRUBER;

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 2], 1 920.

Patented Jan.31,1922.

7 a 9 u 4. 4 f E m Z a y m 5 515/... $4 w m J v 3 z 6 aw w w BENTON E. PLUMLEE'AND ANDREW E. GRUIBER, or sue 'urAnqi' Y I STAMP-AFEIXING MACHINE.

The object of the invention is to provide a relatively vsimple and comparatively inexpensive mechanism whereby postage stamps may be applied to letters or envelopes containing letters with accuracy and expedition to avoid the inconvenience andjloss of time incident to the manual application of the same; and with these objects in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1. is a side view of the machine. 7 Figure 2 is a front view of the same. 7 Figure 3 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a detail view of the cam by which the envelope'clamps are actuated.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 7 '7 of Figure 4. Figure 8 is aview of the drum to show the arrangement of one of the envelope clamps thereon. p

Figure 9 is a detail longitudmal section of the moistening roll to show the means by which the surface thereof is supplied with water. I a

The apparatus consists essentially of a drum 10 arranged in cooperative relation with av hopper box 11 in which the envelopes to be'stamped are arranged flat-wlse or in parallelism in a tier or pile, so that the lowermost envelope is within engag ng re lation with a feed slide 12 located in the bottom thereof; a stamp affixing or depressing plunger 13 operatively connected wlth the drum 10; a stamp reel 14 adaptedto contain a continuous strip of stamps as 1ndicated at 15, and stamp feeding and Specification of Letters Patent. Pa/tented J Application filed December 21, 1920. Serial No. 432,280. a

moistening mechanism at 16.

' In the illustrated embodimentfofthe 'invention, the shaft 17 ofthe drum ism ounted upon a suitable frame work including standard 18 and carries a gearwheell9 meshing with a pinion 20 having a -.wrist' pi n2l which is connected by a pitman 22 with the stem 23 of the plunger 13 which plunger operates in a vertical guide 24 accesslble to the strip of stamps through an inlet slot 25 having a cutting edge 26for indicated generally 3 i cooperationwith a cutting edge 27 on the. follower, so that asthe stamps are successively fed forward into the guide 24. and are thus brought into the path of the plunger,.

the descent of the, latter dueto the rotary movement of the pinion 20 causes the separation of sai.d stamp from the strip by the cooperative action of the cutting edges, and

the depression [of the stamp into contact wlth an envelope located upon the surface' of theldrum 10. V

The drum carries a series of tappets 28 for engagement successively with? a trip 29 which is connected, with the slide 12, so as to advance theslide and byengage 'ment with the lowermost envelope inthe hopper box draw-the same forward toward the guide 24, thereturn of .the' slide after ported by the standard 18, so.that(as,eachf envelope is drawn out of, the hoppe 'flitlis,

caught by the clamp and thus c'arried on the:

surfaceof the'drum into the" path of the fingers on gravity actuated pressure roll 39.. The i moistening roll receives rotary motion through a chain 40 traversing sprocket wheels 41Land42 which are secured respec tively toithe main shaft 17;and the spindle of the moistening roll. Said spindle ofgthe moistening roll is preferably hollow as shown at 43 and in communication with the bore thereof is a water feed tube 44 leading from a water tank 45. The moistening roll;

5: each actuation being effected by means ofitlie spring 30. Also carried by the drum-is a clamp 31 'actuable by a cam- 32 which is sup-.

is preferably of an absorbent material and the moisture fed to the spindle thereof is taken up and conveyed through capillary action to the surface thereof over which the strip of stamps, fed forwardbetween the feed rolls 3% and 35, passes, being held firmly in: contact therewith by the gravity pressure roll 39 so that the stamps are successively presented in the guide 2a in a properly moistened condition and properly positioned to be depressed by the plunger into engaging contact with the surfaces successively of the envelopes as they are presented thereto by the movement of the drum l0 and the parts which cooperate therewith as hereinabove described.

Obviously any preferred means or power may be employed for communicating rotary motion to theshaft 1'7 of the drum, and with the hopper properly stocked with the envelopes to be stamped it will be obvious that the operation of the mechanism will result in the successive presentation of'the envelope tothe affixing means with which cooperates the stamp feeding devices serving to successively present the stampsin a properly moistened condition to be affixed to the envelope successively.

In the construction illustrated the enveL ope feed-slide'12 is mounted in a guide frame 46 secured to the envelope hopper or box and is provided with a finger 47'operating in a slot 48 in the bottom of the box (shown clearly in Figure 5), and the trip 29 is adjustable with relation to the feed slide 12, in order to present the envelopes successively in properly timed relation with the movements of the other parts, and particularly of the stamp impressing plunger, by means of a stem 49'secured at the proper adjustment by means of aset screw 50.

Also in order that there may be no sliding contact between the plunger and the stamps as the rotation'of the drum, carrying the envelope, continues after the stamp is brought into contact with the surface of the envelope, the plunger is preferably provided as indicated in detail in Figure 7 with a head 51 having: an endless movable bearing face formed by a belt 52 traversing idle rolls 53 and adapted to receiveaprogressive movement by contact with the stamp as the envelope' with the stamp attached thereto moves forward under the impulse of the drum. The doubling or tearing or distortion ofjthe stamp after the plunger comes in contact therewith is thereby avoided.

Moreover, in order to provide for properly feeding envelopes of different sizes the hopper is provided with gages 54 and 55 consisting of yielding or spring arms 56 having slotted bases 57 engaged by set screws 58. These gages as indicated are arranged respectively at one end and one side of the hopper.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is: 7

1. A. stamp arllixing machine having a revoluble drum, a feed hopper for envelopes, envelope feeding mechanism including a slide for successively engaging and advancing the envelopes from the hopper to the 7 surface of the drum, tappets carried by the drum for successively actuating said slide, a plunger operatively connected with the drum for radial movement toward and from the surface of the drum, and stamp feeding and moistening mechanism for successively presenting the stamps in the path of the plunger.

2. A stamp affixing machine having a revoluble drum, reciprocatorymeans for successively feeding envelopes to the periphcry of the drum, a clamp to successively move into engagement with theen'velopes as they are presented upon the surface of the drum by said means, a plunger operatively connected with the drumfor radial movement toward and from i the surface thereof, and stamp feeding and moistening mechanism for successively presenting stamps in the path of the plunger.

A stamp affixing machine having a revoluble drum, reciprocatory feeding means for successively presenting envelopes to and arranging the same upon the periphery of the drum, clamping means engageable with the envelope after projection by said means for holding the envelopes on the drum, a plunger operatively connected with the drum for-movement toward and from the surface thereof, means for supplying a strip of stamps, feed rolls operatively connected with the drum for feeding the stamps to resent the same successively in the pathof the 105 plunger, means actuable by the plunger for successively severing the stamps from the strip, and stamp moistening means arranged in the path of the stamps as they are fed to the plunger. 7

4:; A stamp affixing machine having a revoluble drum, envelope feeding means for successively presenting envelopes to; and placing the same upon the surface of the drum, a plungeroperatively connected with 115 the drum for movement toward and from the surface thereof, revoluble feed rolls operatively connected with the drum for advancing a strip'of stamps toward the path of the plunger, a revoluble absorbent moisten 120 ing drum also operatively connected with the drum and having a hollow spindle, a source of water supply in communication with said spindle of the moistening roll, and a pressure roll for holding the stamps in con- 125 tact with the moistening roll.

5. A stamp affixing. machine having a revoluble drum, envelope feeding means for successively presenting envelopes to and'arranging the same upon the surface of the 136 drum, clamping means for holding the envelope on the surface of the drum, a plunger operatively connected with the drum for movement toward and from the surface thereof, means for supplying a strip of stamps, feed rolls operatively connected with the drum for feeding the stamps to present the same successively in the path of the plunger, means actuable by the plunger for successively severing the stamps from the strip, and stamp moistening means arranged in the path of the stamps as they are fed to the plungerythe envelope feeding means having an envelope engaging reciprocably mounted finger, and a trip for successive engagement by tappets on the drum an adjustable connection being provided between said trip and feed finger.

6. A stamp, aflixing machine having a drum, means to supply mailing matter to the periphery of the drum, means operable to clamp said mailing matter to the drum, means to urge the latter means out of engagement with the mailing matter, and means cooperating with the drum operable affix a stamp to the mailing matter.

7. A stamp afiixein machine having a drum, means to supp y mailing matter to the periphery of the drum, a clamp means, a cam operable to move said clamp means against the mailing matter, a spring to nor-' mally urge the clamp means away from the mailing matter, and meanscooperating withoperable to aflix stamps t0 the mailing mat-4Q ter while on the periphery of the drum.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses. 1

DENTON E. PLUMLEEt ANDREW E. GRUBER. Witnesses: a

T. H. Hnms, ALBERT S'ADA. 

